ebi / ebinom

Some: Ebi and Ebinom

Level 4

Ebi = some (of it, of them), ebinom = some people: Ebi wɔ hɔ (There is some), Ebinom kɔeɛ (Some went).

How It Works

1. Ebi: some of it, some of them
Ebi stands for part of something already mentioned, such as food, water, money or books. It can also mean some of a group: Ebi bɛba (Some will come).

  • Ebi wɔ hɔ. (There is some.)
  • Ma me bi. (Give me some.)
  • Menni bi. (I don't have any.)

2. Ebinom: some people
Ebinom always refers to people. It is common for contrasts: Ebinom pɛ fufuo, na ebinom pɛ ampesi (Some like fufu, and others like ampesi).

3. After a noun: bi and binom
After a noun, some is bi, and after a plural people noun it can be binom: nnipa binom (some people). With a pronoun, use mu: wɔn mu bi or wɔn mu binom (some of them), mo mu binom (some of you).

4. Some and others
Twi repeats the same word where English says some... others: ebi... ebi for things, ebinom... ebinom for people.

5. Related words
For someone and something, see Someone, Something, Somewhere. For all, see nyinaa.

Examples (6)

  1. Ebi wɔ hɔ.

    There is some.

    Word by Word: some is there

    Said, for example, about water or food already mentioned.

  2. Ma me bi.

    Give me some.

    After a verb, some is just bi.

  3. Ebinom kɔeɛ, na ebinom tenaa hɔ.

    Some people left, and others stayed.

    Repeating ebinom gives some... others.

  4. Ebinom pɛ fufuo, na ebinom pɛ ampesi.

    Some people like fufu, and others like ampesi.

    Ampesi is boiled yam, plantain or cassava.

  5. Nnipa binom nnim Twi.

    Some people don't know Twi.

    After the people noun nnipa, some is binom, without e-.

  6. Mo mu binom bɛba ɔkyena.

    Some of you will come tomorrow.

    Word by Word: you in some will-come tomorrow

    Mo mu means among you, and binom picks out some of them.

Common Mistakes

  • Using ebinom for things.

    Ebinom wɔ kuruwa no mu.
    Ebi wɔ kuruwa no mu.

    Ebinom only refers to people. For some water, food or anything that is not a person, use ebi.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

ebi / ebinomLevel 4Some: Ebi and Ebinom

Learn This First

Some builds on bi, and ebinom adds the people ending -nom.

Words in This Pattern

bi